Every time we play Essendon*, Morefrees gets at least one cheap goal from the umpires. He's the genetic hybrid you get when you fuse/mate Wanganeen and Monga. I'd be interested to know how he rates with others in the competition for most free kick goals (particularly when compared to the amount of time he's actually on field).

All the being said, it wasn't the umpires that cost us the game of footy. We were second to the contest for most of the game...made basic skill errors and the opposition more often than not gets the 'rub of the green' when they're more desperate than we are.

QFT

You make your own luck.

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And so while others miserably pledge themselves to the pursuit of ambition and brief power, I will be stretched out in the shade, singing.

Agree that the umpiring didn't cost us the game, but surely the umpires need to apply the rules as they are written, not on a sympathy basis.

Slattery was like one of those kids who runs in front of another kid on a swing on Funniest Home Videos, completely oblivious and getting in the way of the real action.

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"One of my favorite philosophical tenets is that people will agree with you only if they already agree with you. You do not change people's minds." - Frank Zappa

One decision summed it for me after the bummers received everything possible in the 1st quarter and that was, when Fevola was held by Gadget arms and couldn't get to the loose ball and the umpire (Razor or McLaren both as bad as each other ), actually disgraceful, put up his hand to his eyes to indicate the sun was in his eyes and couldn't see the holding.

That explained the umpires mindset although I knew that by then anyway.

Jimmy's money still at work I see.

The umpiring didn't cost us the game, we did. But there some dubious decisions at crucial times that ended in goals to them and swung the momentum their way. That one to Monfries when Setanta was taken high 4 seconds earlier was a prime example. No free to Bentick ten minutes into the last quarter when McPhee and another bloke jumped on his back in the centre square. At that stage we were in front by 2 pts, but they took the clearance from that ball up (again ) and rammed it straight down Lloyd's throat to put them back in front.

We were also on the end of some soft ones which I, and a lot of Carlton supporters around me were embarassed with.

But that free kick to Slattery was the worst by an absolute mile........ I was at the game not far from where it happened and the umpire actually signalled that the free was for "in the back". He may have changed his mind when he explained to Fev what it was for, but he clearly signalled with the "in the back" motion. The umpires are so comprimised these days about "protecting the head" and "protecting the ball player" that they just get caught up in the emotion to the point that they award a free kick just because someone gets injured.

It just makes it such a frustrating game to what these days.

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"If everyone is moving forward together, then success takes care of itself" - Henry Ford

The free kick was paid because there was head high contact, regardless of whether it was intentional, incidental etc.... It's not reportable because Fev had eyes on the ball and attacked it as he should.

It is debatable whether Slattery was doing the right thing by being in the line of the on-coming players but please lets give the guy some credit, he copped one of the biggest hits I have seen in recent times and to do what he did showed a lot of courage. I wish him well in his recovery.

If he'd charged in and headbutted Fev in the guts it'd be a free to Fev every time, he wasn't watching the ball. Swap Fev's guts for his knee and suddenly the rules change?

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"One of my favorite philosophical tenets is that people will agree with you only if they already agree with you. You do not change people's minds." - Frank Zappa

What a load of bullshit!!!!!

If that's what that free kick was paid for, then where was the free kick to Wiggins(?) when Ryder flew into his head and took that spectacular mark???? Surely that must be high contact????

Flower I hate the umpiring in this game, it is only making it a more frustrating sport to watch.

I hope Slattery recovers OK, best of luck to him, he showed lots of courage but FFS it was incidental contact in a marking contest which he could have avoided. He put himself in that situation.

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"If everyone is moving forward together, then success takes care of itself" - Henry Ford

did he show courage or stupidity?

Fev should be allowed to protect himself against a player running AT HIM while he is contesting a mark.

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Between our dreams and actions lies this world

Surely the most stupid umpiring descision was the "advantage" call for Murphy to run 50 metres into goal unchecked...

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"...that's the thing about opinion - you don't have to know anything to have one..." Andre Agassi commenting on Pat Cash 2004
"...the less you know - the more you believe..." - Bono 2006

The only reason the Scum got a free kick was because Slattery was knocked out. If Fletcher hadn't put Fev off balance even that would not have happened.

It should have been a free kick against him as Slattery had no eyes on the football at all.

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Carlton - Nothing's changed
I still love you, oh, I still love you
Only slightly, only slightly less
Than I used to, my love

Yeah, I said he could have avoided it, so I guess its stupidity then?

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"If everyone is moving forward together, then success takes care of itself" - Henry Ford

Why? because you knew he'd stuff it up?

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"If everyone is moving forward together, then success takes care of itself" - Henry Ford

So now a player cannot fly for a mark incase he connects with someone's head in a pack?
Well f*** me what is going on.

The free kick should have been paid to Fev against Slattery for stopping Fev taking one of the greatest marks ever. That is how the umpires have become.

That's exactly how I saw it.

If it was a free against Fev, he should have also been reported.

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************************************************************
NOW YOU'RE JUST SOME CLUB THAT I USED TO KNOW.

Que???

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"...that's the thing about opinion - you don't have to know anything to have one..." Andre Agassi commenting on Pat Cash 2004
"...the less you know - the more you believe..." - Bono 2006

http://afl.com.au/tabid/208/Default.aspx?newsid=62006

Well done Fev.

Good to read.

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“It is a state of mind, a system of belief, a way of seeing the world, a deep faith that, because you are Carlton, you belong to something great.” - Mike Fitzpatrick articulating what Out of the Blue means.

And they friggin got a goal out of it as well ... bullsh*t free kick

actually ... bullshit game .. especially when those two clowns, McLaren and Chamberlain are umpiring

Of course a player can fly for a mark, the same as they can attempt a hip and shoulder. If they miss a hip and shoulder and get someone high it's still a free kick paid - right?

Maybe I have got it wrong here but I am not too fussed that a free kick was paid for that, the poor bugger has a fractured cheeckbone so I am inclined to say that he earnt the kick.

It wasnt the free kicks that cost us the game, unfortunately it was our attitude. Essendon* came out much harder and sharper than us and it was evident from the first minute of the game.

Thats what happens when your a young team, up one week and down the next. There has still been significant progress made this year and our next couple of years look very promising.